Trenton mom who lodged kids in Ewing storage locker out on bail

TRENTON — Sheena Johnson is out of jail after spending the last several weeks in a county correctional facility.

The Trenton mother was arrested April 18, after her sons were found living in a Ewing storage locker was released on $50,0000 bail from the Mercer County Corrections Center on Saturday.

The 27-year-old fell on hard times and found herself living in 5 x 10 storage locker along with her two boys, which was revealed when she was arrested by Trenton Police in a separate incident.

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Johnson’s bail was arranged by Dan Toto, a Lawrence attorney, and Olugbala Sababu, owner of Trenton restaurant The Big Easy. Both Toto and Sababu ran into a hurdle trying to get Johnson out of the Hopewell facility on Friday night when an additional $1,500 cash-only bail for charges pertaining to a criminal mischief charge, delayed her release until Saturday.

Toto said that he and Sababu got some really good information that Johnson did not abuse her children and was doing the best she could with limited means.

“We really looked into this,” said Toto. “We made sure she wasn’t a substance abuser, and that she did not abuse her children.”

Toto said he’s sure there are people who want to take a shot at what he and Sababu had done to help Johnson, but Toto said he feels that he and Sababu did the right thing.

On her choice to live in a storage locker, Toto said he might not agree with her decision, but points out that he wasn’t in her shoes.

Johnson’s living situation was revealed when she was arrested for allegedly slashing the tires on her boyfriend’s vehicle. In April, police following procedure on a domestic violence incident, asked the 27-year-old if she had any dependents. That question would reveal the reality of where Johnson and her sons had been living

“She didn’t leave her kids under a bridge, she didn’t leave them with some monster,” said Toto. “She made the best situation possible with the small amount of funds she had at the time.”

Toto said Johnson knows she has to move on and knows that what she did was wrong.

“At the end of the day, she summed it up right,” Toto said. “She messed up, its not the end of the world.”

Toto said we’ve all messed up in our life somewhere where is it could have taken a turn one way or another — “she just happened to mess up with the most precious things there are.”

“It’s easy to judge, but we just wanted to be available to hopefully give her a second chance and let the social service system now assist her,” Toto said.

Johnson still faces an uphill battle with the legal system, she faces two-counts of child endangerment and one count of criminal mischief for allegedly slashing her boyfriend’s tires.

Toto told The Trentonian that Johnson is under the care of Greater Trenton Behavioral health. Johnson is currently staying in temporary housing that Toto and Sababu have paid for.

On Monday Johnson should be able to move into a Greater Trenton Behavioral health independent living facility.

A fundraiser for Johnson will be held at The Big Easy, located at 120 South Warren Street on Tuesday May 21, from 5 p.m. to closing. A trust fund has been set up in Johnson’s name to help get her and her kids back on their feet.

Currently Johnson is unable to see her sons, ages 5 and 10, who are in foster care.

“I think, ultimately she’ll do the right thing and do right by these kids,” said Toto.

— Please call The Big Easy for more information on how to donate to Sheena Johnson’s Trust fund at 989-7900. Checks or money orders made out to “Trust for Sheena Johnson” will be accepted at The Big Easy at 120 South Warren Street.